Should Brantley Gilbert have to give an acceptance speech at the 2012 ACM Awards in April, he tells Taste of Country he’ll pretty much wing it. The singer says he won’t come prepared with notes, or a written list of thank yous.

“It should come pretty easy to me, you know. I know who means the most to me,” he says. Gilbert found out yesterday morning that he was one of three finalists for the ACM’s New Artist of the Year award. The honor will be decided mostly by fans, who can vote beginning March 19 at www.VoteACM.com.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” Gilbert adds. “I feel very privileged that fans and radio recognized and honored me not only as a songwriter, but as an artist. It’s just an indescribable feeling.”

The ‘You Don’t Know Her Like I Do’ singer also admits that he’s nervous about the nomination and potentially performing in front of so many country music legends. “A good kind of nervous,” he says.

Gilbert called from a hotel room where he was writing songs with friends and preparing for a show in Tampa, Fla. He said he and Eric Church haven’t had time on the Blood Sweat and Beers Tour to sit down and write together, but they will soon. “I think we’re cut from the same mold,” Gilbert says. “We’ve hung out a little bit. He got me a birthday cake on my birthday. He’s a cool guy.”

Scotty McCreery and Hunter Hayes are also nominated for the 2012 ACM Award for New Artist of the Year. Fans can vote until just before the 8PM ET showtime on April 1.

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